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Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1919, Page 2

In regard to Mr O’Brien’s visit to South Westland, and the good arising from an inspection by anyone bent on s6eing for himself what are the genuine needs of the district, it is not creditable to Government’s past and present to recall how few Ministers have toured the diferfct. The only Ministers we can thnk of who have travelled through South Westland are the late Hons. Gisborne, Seddon and Larnach, while Governor Glasgow made the trip also. For the Governments and Ministers generally iiouth Westland has been tapu. In connection with Mr O’Brien’s claim that liig voice was the first heard in the far south on behalf of Labor, we would remind liim that the late Mr Seddon, the founder of the political fortunes of Labor, rather anticipated him by some years, and the sitting member, Mr T. Y. Seddon, who has never been blind to the rights of Labor and the cause of which he has espoused, is not by any means a stranger south. The sitting member visited the far south long before he had any idea of entering Parliament, and from those days onward he has been a faithful advocate of the lot of the people with • whom he has mixed so freely. There have been great strides in the matter of communication in South Westland since 1906 when Mr Seddon succeeded big illustrious father, and with the works now in immediate sight it cannot lie said that tlm sitting member has served that portion of his consttuency indifferently. By the way Mr O’Brien wa s quite misinformed about the Hokitika attitude towards Okarito harbour. It is of the. friendliest from every point of view, as it is to pll other parts of the southern district which are considered such a a staple support to the central commercial town. It is well to have th!e point ventilated however, if' there has been any misunderstanding about it.

The mandate to New Zealand regarding the care and control of German Samoa, is not going to be a charge lightly dealjt with. The Dominion i 8 to become a national tins tec, and the opportunity is one in which New Zealand by benign and humanitarian direction can gain considerable kudos. The territory controlled will require to be administered wisely if it is to be safely and securely managed. Its productivi-' ty whence will be derived the cost of its maintenance for the benefit of the native race and the safeguarding of that portion of the Pacific as an assured home for inernational security, is of the first importance. The native popu-

lation is not remarkable for its sustained industry 7, and the climate is such that white labor is not available. Till the natives can be educated up to a realisat'iofi of self-preservation by work, a certain gfnquujs qf imported colored labor will require to be mahitajjied in the district. .The terms and conditions under which this class of labor should be secured for tlie development of the country is one of the first problems facing New Zealand. The Government is proceeding wisely step by step so a s to glean by actual experience what is best for all concerned. In tlie Island Jifo in the past indentured labor has bad to be secured, and certain evils have arisen therefrom, which it is certain will be avoided under New Zealand control. The suggestion made in some quarters that this indentured labor will be a form of salary will be avoided also, for nothing of the sort will enter the mindg of the Government. The desire will he to lift the people and the territory into a higher and nobler conditon, and so far ns the Dominion is concerned this will be accomplished even though the task at the outset will not show a profitable financial return.